A coalition of US House Democrats is demanding urgent answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following a staggering rise in fatalities within immigrant detention facilities. The lawmakers are sounding the alarm over what they describe as a systemic failure in medical care and a pattern of neglect.
Record-Breaking Number of Fatalities
In a letter led by Representatives Dave Min (D-Calif.) and Judy Chu (D-Calif.), sent on Friday, the legislators revealed that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has publicly reported 25 detainee deaths since January 23, 2025. This figure is deeply concerning, as it exceeds every annual total since reporting began in 2018.
The surge in deaths coincides with a massive increase in the detained population, a result of the administration's intensified immigration enforcement over the past year. This has led to widespread reports of overcrowding and staffing shortages, which have allegedly worsened long-standing issues such as unsanitary conditions and inadequate medical care.
Disturbing Cases of Alleged Neglect
The congressional letter points to specific cases as evidence of systemic problems, including delayed treatment and a failure to properly notify families.
One case involves 39-year-old Ismael Ayala-Uribe, who was detained at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in southern California. He died in September after allegedly being denied timely care for an abscess. The lawmakers further claim his family was only notified after his death and were not informed he had been hospitalized. ICE has stated his cause of death is under investigation.
Another tragic case mentioned is that of 75-year-old Isidro Pérez, detained at the Krome Service Processing Center in Florida. He died in July after reporting chest pains. According to the Democrats' letter, he did not receive the painkillers he requested and experienced delayed medical care because the facility's infirmary was overcrowded. ICE is also investigating his death.
Mounting Evidence and Official Response
These allegations are not isolated. Earlier this year, a report from Human Rights Watch concluded that at least two deaths in custody in Florida facilities may have been linked to medical neglect. The report detailed instances where detainees were denied urgent care, including access to insulin and treatment for emergencies.
While DHS has repeatedly claimed that allegations of subpar conditions in ICE detention centers are false, a department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this specific letter.
The House lawmakers are now pressing DHS to answer critical questions about whether it is hiring adequate medical staff to handle the detainee surge and if it is properly tracking repeated abuses at certain facilities. As they powerfully state in their letter, These are not just numbers on a website, but real people—with families, jobs, and hopes and dreams—each of whom died in ICE custody.
